Apollo 16 collectibles and memorabilia

Brief history/biography

Apollo 16 was the American Apollo space program's tenth manned mission and the fifth mission to land on the Moon.

Apollo 16 was launched on April 16th, 1972 and returned on April 27th, 1972. The crew members consisted of Commander John W. Young, Command Module Pilot T. Kenneth Mattingly II and Lunar Module Pilot Charles M. Duke Jr.

Types of memorabilia

Equipment

Swann Auction Galleries in New York sold an ALSEP locking pin which was taken aboard the spacecraft and used as lunar surface equipment by the crew members for $12,000 in March of 2006.

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas sold several items from the mission including:

a beta cloth transfer bag that was taken aboard the spacecraft and signed by Charles Duke for $9,250 in October of 2008

a utility light cord which was also taken aboard the spacecraft for $17,000 in June of 2011

an optical alignment sight which helped the module to dock for $65,725 in October of 2009

a spacecraft identification plate display which was taken aboard the spacecraft for $33,460 in March of 2009.

Photographs

Christie's in New York sold Apollo 16's lunar surface excursion map from an orbital photo of the Moon's surface for $94,000 in May of 2001.

Accessories

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas sold an engraved spoon which was used by Commander John W. Young and taken aboard the spacecraft for $10,157.50 in March of 2009, and Charles Duke's needle nose pliers for $33,460 in March of 2008.

Regency Superior in St. Louis Missouri sold an Apollo 16 emblem patch for $4,250 in December of 2005.

Aurora in Bell Canyon, California sold a mustard seed which was flown aboard the spacecraft along with a handwritten inscription by Charles Duke for $3,250 in April of 2004.

Documents

Bonham's in London sold Duke's wrist-mounted checklist for $206,000 in July of 2009.

Swann Galleries in New York sold a United States Flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft as well as taken to the lunar surface on April 20th, 1972 along with signatures of crew members John Young, Ken Mattingly, and Charles Duke and a photograph of John Young for $5,000 in March of 2006, and an Apollo 16 lunar orbit chart which was carried aboard the spacecraft for $12,000 in April of 2005.

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas sold a printed lunar surface map which was signed by Charles Duke and John Young for $33,460 in October of 2009.

Christie's in New York sold an Apollo 16 lunar surface excursion map which was signed by Duke for $94,000 in 2001.

Medallions

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas sold John Young's silver medallion which was flown aboard the spacecraft for $13,000 in June of 2011, and another silver medallion which was taken aboard the spacecraft for $19,120 in November of 2010.

Swann Galleries in New York sold another silver medallion which was taken aboard the spacecraft for $3,200 in April of 2005.

Aurora in Bell Canyon, California sold another silver Medallion which was also taken aboard the spacecraft for $3,000 in April of 2004.

Flags

Aurora in Bell Canyon, California sold an American flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft for $3,000 in November of 2003.

Regency-Superior in St. Louis, Missouri sold another American flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft for $4,750 in April of 2007.

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas sold an American flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft and also signed by Charles Duke for $7,750 in October of 2008, and another American flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft and signed by Charles Duke for $11,950 in March of 2008.

Swann Galleries in New York sold a Texas State flag which was taken aboard the spacecraft along with an inscription by Charlie Duke for $3,800 in March of 2006.

Guide for collectors

Apollo 16 memorabilia that was flown aboard the spacecraft and/or taken to the lunar surface is considered to be the most rare and valuable. Apollo 16 medallions that were also taken aboard the spacecraft are also extremely rare because only a third were flown into space along with the crew members. Any Apollo 16 memorabilia that was marked with lunar dust is considered to be the most rare.

Restoration of any memorabilia items that were taken aboard the spacecraft is not recommended.

For more information regarding where to find Apollo 16 memorabilia, visit www.thespacestore.com, www.apolloarchive.com.